Brussels, Belgium — The European Parliament has banned lobbyists working for Chinese technology giant Huawei from accessing its premises following a sweeping corruption investigation linked to the company. The decision, announced on Friday, comes after Belgian authorities arrested several individuals and conducted over 20 raids across Brussels, Flanders, Wallonia, and Portugal as part of an ongoing probe into alleged bribery at the heart of EU decision-making.

This latest scandal adds to the growing list of controversies surrounding Huawei, which has faced increasing scrutiny over its ties to the Chinese government and allegations of security risks. It also underscores persistent concerns about foreign influence within European institutions, echoing the infamous Qatargate scandal that erupted in December 2022.

The Investigation Unfolds

Belgian prosecutors revealed that the investigation focuses on “active corruption, forgery of documents, money laundering, and participation in a criminal organization” allegedly aimed at promoting Huawei’s commercial interests within the European Parliament. Authorities suspect that the scheme involved payments to current or former Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) in exchange for political favors, excessive gifts such as food, travel expenses, and invitations to football matches, and other forms of inducement.

According to reports by Belgian newspaper Le Soir , investigative outlet Follow the Money , and German publication Knack , approximately 15 current and former MEPs are under scrutiny. While no names have been officially confirmed, investigators have already sealed two offices inside the European Parliament tied to parliamentary assistants allegedly involved in the scheme.

One of these offices belongs to Adam Mouchtar, a long-time official and current assistant to newly elected MEP Nikola Minchev. Mouchtar, who co-founded the group EU40 with Greek politician Eva Kaili—a central figure in the Qatargate scandal—confirmed to POLITICO that his office was sealed but denied any wrongdoing. The second office is linked to assistants of Italian conservative MEPs Fulvio Martusciello and Marco Falcone. Both Martusciello and Falcone have declined to comment further.

Huawei’s Brussels-based lobbying office was among the locations raided by police, who left carrying four boxes filled with documents and seized materials. A spokesperson for the Belgian prosecutor’s office stated that the alleged misconduct occurred “regularly and very discreetly” between 2021 and the present day, disguised as legitimate commercial lobbying efforts.

Huawei Responds Amid Rising Tensions

In response to the allegations, Huawei issued a statement emphasizing its commitment to compliance and zero tolerance for corruption. “Huawei takes these allegations seriously and will urgently communicate with the investigation to further understand the situation,” the company said. However, critics argue that this is not the first time Huawei has faced accusations of unethical behavior.

The timing of the scandal is particularly sensitive given the geopolitical tensions between the United States and China over technology dominance. Washington has long pressured European nations to ban Huawei’s equipment from their 5G networks, citing national security risks and fears of potential espionage facilitated by Beijing. Several EU member states, including the UK, Sweden, and Estonia, have already implemented bans or restrictions on Huawei’s involvement in critical infrastructure projects.

European Commission Spokesperson Thomas Regnier reiterated the bloc’s cautious stance toward Huawei during a press briefing on Thursday. “Huawei represents higher risks than other 5G suppliers; this point could be included in risk assessments on tenders within the EU,” he said, referencing policies enacted in recent years to reduce Europe’s dependency on Chinese suppliers.

Parliament Under Fire Again

The Huawei scandal has reignited debates about transparency and accountability within the European Parliament, which suffered significant reputational damage during the Qatargate investigation. In that case, Qatar was accused of attempting to influence EU officials through bribes and lavish gifts to downplay labor rights concerns ahead of the FIFA World Cup.

Victor Negrescu, the European Parliament’s vice president for transparency and anti-corruption, described the latest allegations as “deeply concerning.” He stressed that individuals under suspicion must not be allowed to shape legislation or policy decisions. “We cannot accept that those accused of corruption continue influencing the democratic process,” Negrescu told reporters.

Members of the European Parliament have called for swift and decisive action. Dutch liberal MEP Bart Groothuis urged President Roberta Metsola to respond forcefully, warning that “the credibility of our institution is at stake.” Meanwhile, Daniel Freund, a German Green MEP, advocated for stricter measures against companies implicated in corruption cases. “If in doubt, Huawei should be banned from the premises for the duration of the investigation,” Freund said. “Corruption must be punished harshly.”

Manon Aubry, co-chair of The Left group in Parliament, echoed these sentiments, criticizing the failures of European institutions to safeguard integrity. “These accusations expose once again the vulnerabilities of our system,” she said.

Broader Implications for EU-China Relations

The Huawei scandal comes at a delicate moment for EU-China relations. While Brussels seeks to maintain economic ties with Beijing, it has grown increasingly wary of China’s geopolitical ambitions and methods of exerting influence abroad.

Belgian intelligence services have reportedly been monitoring Huawei’s activities in Brussels since at least 2023, according to confidential documents obtained by POLITICO . These documents suggest that China may be leveraging non-state actors, including senior lobbyists employed by Huawei, to advance its strategic objectives in Europe.

The arrests and subsequent bans on Huawei lobbyists mark a significant escalation in the bloc’s efforts to counteract such influences. However, experts warn that addressing systemic issues like corruption and foreign interference will require more than temporary measures. Strengthening oversight mechanisms, enhancing transparency requirements for lobbyists, and imposing stricter penalties for violations are seen as essential steps moving forward.

As the investigation unfolds, the Huawei bribery scandal threatens to further erode trust in European institutions while highlighting the challenges of balancing economic cooperation with geopolitical vigilance. For now, the European Parliament’s decision to suspend access for Huawei lobbyists sends a strong message—but whether it will lead to lasting reforms remains to be seen.

With multiple high-profile corruption cases rocking the EU in recent years, calls for greater accountability and transparency are louder than ever. As one observer noted, “The credibility of our democracy depends on how we handle crises like this.”

For Huawei, the stakes could not be higher. Already grappling with geopolitical tensions and market restrictions, the company now faces renewed scrutiny that could jeopardize its future in Europe altogether.

The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA), the EU’s financial markets regulator and supervisor, has published a statement on the treatment of settlement fails with respect to the Central Securities Depositories Regulation (CSDR) penalty mechanism, following the major incident that affected TARGET Services (T2S and T2) last month.

Source link